Power system



'F. A. BYLES Aug. 2; 1932.

POWER SYSTEM Original Fild Jan. 2a, 1928 Ihvenior: FranKAByles,

416w His Attorney.

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca rnamr A. isms, or SCHENECTADY, new YORK, assrenoa GENERAL Enncrnrc oomrnnr, a coaromnon or new roux POWER BYSTEI Original application filed January as, 1928, Serial No. 250,251. iJivided and mi application filed June a,

. mac. Serial m. 459,4.

- motors supplied with current from one or lingmeans so as to obtain ful more generators, driven by prime movers such as Diesel engines or steam turbines, and wherein means are provided for enabling the system to deliver full power at all times (which is especially desirable during maneuvering) while at the same time preventing injury to the apparatus under abnormal conditions of operation.-

An object of myinvention is to provide a system wherein automatic regulators are associated with a control mechanism in a manner to accomplish the above results.

A further object of my invention is to prop controlling the generator field is not imporvide a system including voltage regulating means and power limiting regulating means accumulatively res onsive to voltage and current interconnecte with one another insuch a manner as to limit the starting current to a certain value which tapers oil as the voltage rises and thereafter to hold constant voltage. This forms the subject matter of my parent application, Serial No. 250,251, filed J anuary 28, 1928, for Power systems.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the motor field or' fields in respons'e'to motor current irrespective of the control exercised b the controli power at all times without overloading the generating apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for transferring the control from the power limiting regulating means to the means for controlling the motor field or fields in response to motor current when the voltage of the system has attained a predetermined value and the contro. mechanism is operated to motor controlling osition.

A further object o my invention is to provide a power system which may be controlled in a simple, reliable and efiicient manner.

My invention and additional objects thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

(not shown). The generator 7 is provided with a separately excited. field winding 8 arranged to be energized from a suitable source of direct current 9 through a controller 10 and a counter E. M. F. regulator machine 11. The counter E. M. F. machine has not been illustrated in detail in the drawing since such machines are well known in the art andthe articular form of regulator employed for tant. The counter E. M. F. machine may be of the motor type or of the generator type and may or may not be included in the generator fieldcircuit depending on the position of a switch 12, which may also operate to disconnect the field 8 from the source 9 although the controller 10 in its off position will also serve this purpose. The generator field may be reversed by means of a switch 13 and its intensity controlled by means of the controller 10 and the effect of the counter E. M. F. machine 11. The field circuit is completed as follows: From the plus side of the source 9, through conductor 14, switch 12, counter E. M. F. machine 11 or conductor 15, conductor 16, segment 17, contact 18 on arm 19 of controller 10, resistance 20, and/or segment 21, conductor 22, switch 13, field 8, conductor 23, adjustable resistance 24, contacts 25, contact member 26, and conductor 27 to the negative side of the source of supply 9. The contacts 25 and. contact member 26 are parts of an overload'relay 28 whose operating coil 29 is inserted in the load circuit between the motors 1 and 2 and the generator 7 to protect the system from overloads which may occur if for an reason the protective apparatus and regu ating means about to be described fail to operate or to accomplish the purposes for which they are designed. As is well understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention applies, suitaposition completes the circuit of contactor" ble discharge resistances may be associated with the field circuit at the rela 28 and the switches 12 and 13 to protect the eld winding 8 from the effects of the inductive discharge occurring upon opening its circuit when the same is carrying current. Since such arrangements are already well known to the art, and'since they form no art of the present invention, the present rawing has not been complicated b their addition.

The counter E. F. machine 11 is provided with a field winding 30 which is connected to the source 9 through a resistance 31 and conductors 32 and 33. The degree of energization of the field 30 is controlled by a Voltage regulator 34 and a power limiting regulator 35 whose contacts 36 and 37 are connected in series by conductors 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 across the field winding30. The arrangement is such that when both contacts 36 and 37 are closed the field winding 30 is short circuited and consequently substantiall deenergized. The contacts 36 and 37 of t e re ulators are normally biased to closed positions by springs 43, the tension of which may be varied by suitable means illustrated at 44. The operating coil 45 of the voltage regulator 34 is connected across the generator 7 through conductors 5 and 46, resistor 47, and conductors 48 and 6. The voltage coil 49 of the power limiting regulator 35 is connected across the generator 7 through conductors 5 and 50, resistance 51 and conductors 48 and 6. Thecurrent coil 52 of the power limiting regulator 35 is connected by conductors 53 to a shunt 54 inserted in the power line 5 between the motors 1 and 2 and the generator 7. The coils 49 and 52 of the power regulator are connected accumulatively so that as the voltage rises the regulator responds to less and less current. The regulators 34 and 35 may be ad- 'justed by suitably tensioning the 5 rings 43 by means 44 and the energization o the coils 45, 49 and 52 by suitably adjusting the resistances 47 and 51 and suitably selecting or adjusting the shunt 54.

The contacts 37 of regulator 35 may be short circuited through conductors 55, contacts 56 and contact member 57 when relay 58 is suitably energized. This relay is connected across the generator 7 through a. re sistor 59 by conductors 60 and 61, segments 62 and 63 of controllerlO, contact 64upon the operating handle 19 of controller 10 and conductor 65. Relay 58 is held' in its deenergized position by a spring 66 and in this 67 as follows: Through conductors 68 and 69, contacts 70, contact member 71, conductor 72, and resistance 73. When relay 58 is in' its energized position; that is, in a ition in which it short circuits the contact 3 .of power limiting relay 35, a circuit is likewise completed through contacts 74 by contact member 75 through conductor 68, contacts 74, 3

conductors 83 to a shunt 84 inserted in the power line between motors 1 and 2 and generator 7. This regulator is normally biased to a closed position as illustrated by aspring 85 in which position the'contacts 78 previously referred to are closed. When, however,

the regulator is sufliciently energized the contacts 48 are opened against the force of the the with a winding 82 which is connected through.

spring and the circuit completed through the contactor 86 as follows: conductors 5 and 68, contacts 74, contact member 75 of relay 58, conductor 76, contactor 86, resistor 81 and conductor 6.- When either contactor 67 or 86 is energized the fields 3 and 4 of the motors 1 and 2 are connected directly across the source of supply 9, through conductors 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91. When the contactors 67 and 86 are deenergized the 'energization of the fields 3 and 4 of motors 1 and 2 ma be controlled by operating the handle 19 o the controller 10, which in its final positions completes the circuit of the fields 3 and 4 through.

conductors 92, contact 93 on handle 19 of controller 10, and segment 94 and resistance 95 of controller 10. For the purpose of testing the equipment without operating the ship,

switches 96 and 97 are provided in conductors 5 and 6 for disconnectin the motor arma tures from the generator While'the generator voltage is below its normal operatingvalue and is being controlled through the agenc of resistance 20 in the controller 10, full eld is maintained on the motors 1 and 2 by completing their.

circuit directly across the source-of supply 9 through contact 93 and segments 94 and 98 of controller 10, the circuit being as follows: conductors 87 and 92, segment 94, contact 93, se ent 98, conductors 9'2 and 90, motor fie ds 3 and 4 and conductor 91.

Assuming that. when switch. 13 is in the n position illustrated the generator voltage applied to the motors is in such a direction asto cause the. proper rotation of the ro pellers to propel the boat in a forwar di-. rection; that switches 96 and 97 are closed and that switch 12 .is thrown to the leftto include the counter E. M. F. machine 11 in the field circuit 8 of the generator 7, the

operation of the system as the controller handle 19 is moved to the left is as follows. In the initial operating position contact 18 on the handle 19 of controller 10 completes the field circuit of generator 7 through segment 17 and resistance of the controller, the circuit being as follows: From the plus side of the source of supply 9, throu h conductor 14, switch 12, counter E. M. machine ll, conductor 16, segment 17, resistance 20, segment 21, conductor 22, switch 13, field 8 of generator 7, conductor 23, adjustable resistance 24, contacts 25, contact member 26, and conductor 27 to the negative side of the source of supply 9. Depending upon operating conditions and the position of the control handle 19 a greater or less amount of current will flow between the generator 7 and motors 1 and 2. Regulator 35, which is responsive to this current flow as well as to thevoltage of the generator 7, will operate in a manner to control the effect of the counter E. M. F. machine 11 so as to limit the starting current to a predetermined value and thereafter taper off the load current as the generator voltage rises this action resulting from the fact that the voltage and current coils of the regulator are connected accumulativel As the control handle 19 is moved furt er and further to the left the resistance 20 is removed from the field circuit of the generator until finally thecontac't 18 bridges the segments 17 and 21'. Thereafter the voltage of the generator 7 will depend upon the speed of rotation of the prime mover, the adjustment of the resistance 24 and the controlling effect exercised by the voltage regulator 34 acting through the counter M. F. machine 11.

Just previous to, or at the same time that the contact 18 on the handle .19 of controller 10 en ages segment 21, contact 64 on the hall'- dle o the controller completes through segments 62 and 63 a circuit through the trans- A fer relay 58 which is as follows: Conductors 5 and 60, resistance 59, relay 58, conductor 61, segment 62, contact 64, segment63 and conductors 65 and 6. As has been previously stated, the adjustment hf the transfer relay 58is such that when the generator voltage attains a predetermined value it moves lts contacts from the lower position illustrated in the drawingto an upper position. In this upper position the relay contact member 57 short circuits the contacts 37 of power limiting regulator 35 and completes a circuit through contacts 78 of'current regulator 79 at contacts 74 by its contact member 75, thereby transferring the control previously exercised by the power limiting regulator 35 to the current regulator 79. Thereafter the voltage regulator 34 will operate in amanner to maintain constant voltage onthe generator 7 while the current regulator 79 will operate in a manner to short out any resistance 95 that may have been included in series witlr fields 3 and 4 between the motors 1.

and 2 when the current flowing between gen- 'cluding the resistance 95 of t erator 7 and motors 1 and 2 attains a predetermined value. This result is accomplished 3 and 4, and conductor 91. The operating coil of the contactor 86 may be shorted by conductors 77 and 80 and the contacts 78 of current regulator 79. \Vhen, however, the operating coil 82 of the current re lator 79 is sufliciently energized this circuit is open at the contacts 78 and the coil 86 energized by generator voltage through the following circuit: Conductor 68, contacts 74, contact member 75 of relay 58, conductor 76 and resistance 81.

The final position of the control handle 19 is determined by a stop 99 and the off position of this handle is limited by a stop 100.

During starting it is desirable to maintain full field on the motors 1 and 2 and if the operator should rapidly advance the handle .19 of the controller 10' illustrated in the drawing through more than 90 degrees it is apparent that a portion of the resistance of the controller 10 will be included in the motor field circuit if the circuit were comleted through the controller. However, it is to be noted that this is not the case since until the relay 58 operates, which is responsive to enerator voltage, .a circuit is ccmpleted t rough conductors 68 and 69, contacts 70, contact member 71, the operating coil of contactor 67 and resistance 73. 'The contactor 67 will thus be operated and complete the field circuit of the motors 1 and 2 through conductors 88 and 89 directly across the source of supply 9. The circuit is as follows: Conductors 87 and 88, contacts of Y contactor 67, conductors. 89 and 90, fields 3 and 4 of the motors 1 and 2 and conductor 91. Thus, inde endently of the position of the control han le 19, full field wlll-be maintained upon the motors 1 and 2 until the generator voltage has attained a predetermined value which may be within a few per cent of full load value. i

It is also to be noted that if the handle 19 is rapidly advanced to the left through more than 90 degrees, referring of course to the illustratedembodiment, the effect of the resistance-20 in the field circuit will not be such as to limit the current flowing between the generator 7 and the motors 1 and 2 below a safe operating value. However, the power limiting regulator 35 will function through the agency of the counter E. M. F. machine 11 to maintain the power limit below that which the prime mover can safely carry. The regulator or current responsive means 79 likewise operates to limit the power demanded by the motors for when the load currentattains a predetermined value the regulator operates 111 a manner to increase the field stren h of the motors which then slow down an shed part of their load. In the particular case of ship propulsion the power demand decreases I however, from an electrical point of view it is desirable to always have full field on the motors during maneuvering and to. su ply the greatest amount of energy possible rom the generator. The arrangement just described will accomplish this result. Eventually, during the operation of the system, the regulator 34 operates in a manner to maintain constant voltageon the generator 7.

The purpose of the transfer relay 58, other than maintaining full field on the motors during starting, is also as its name implies to transfer automatic control from the power limiting regulator 35 to the current regulator 79. If some such transfer arrangement were not provided, and if boththe power limiting regulator 35 and the current regulator 79 were operated at the same time, there is a. possibility that due to the lag of the generator field 8 in responding to the control exercised by regulator 35 the regulators 35 and 79 might continue to operate-in a" manner to reduce the generator voltage to a very low value. This maybe understood by considering the following operation. Assume that an excessive current is flowing between the generator 7 and motors 1 and 2. This will cause regulator 35 to operate due to the action of the coil 52 of this regulator. Theregulator then will through contacts 37 operate upon the field 30 of the counter E. M. F. machine 11 to reduce the generator voltage and in this man-' ner to reduce the current flowing between the generator 7 and the motors land 2. If, however, the current regulator 79 is also in circuit and if the control handle 19 is in a position to include a portion of the resistance 95 in the field circuits 3 and 4 of motors 1 and 2, it may likewise operate in a manner to-increase'the' field strength of the motors. Thereafter when the current has decreased sufliciently it is possible that the current regulator 7 9 may operate before the power limiting regulator 35. If this'happens the fields of motors 1 and 2 will be weakened and more current will flow between the generator and the motor, which current may be suflicient to again operate the power limiting regulator 35 which will then further decrease the voltage of generator 7. This action may continue until the generator voltage 7 is reduced to a very low value as has been stated above. v

. Under severe conditions of operation when the regulating apparatus just described is not ad uate to protect the system from severe over oads, the relay 28 whose operating coil 7 29 is inserted in the load circuit will function in a manner to relieve or remove the load on the system by deenergizing completely or partially the field 8 of the generator 7. The same protection may also be secured by placing an overload circuit breaker in the armature circuit of the generator and motors.

If for any reason one of the motors 1 or 2 should become incapacitated it is possible to short circuit this motor and by readjusting the regulators and the resistance 24 in the field circuit 8 of the generator 7 the system illustrated can still operate with one motor.

It is, of course, apparent that the motors 1 and 2 might be placed in parallel in which case the above adjustments would not have to be resorted to since the defective motor could be cut out of circuit without effecting the operation of the other motor. In such a case however shunts 54 and 84 may have to be adhand controller located in the pilot house a dial switch and push button station may be used to control a motor driven rheostat similar to the hand rheostat shown in the drawing. Since, however, these features are well known to those skilled in the art and form no part of the present invention such arrangements have not been specifically illustrated.

If for any reason the automatic regulating apparatus should fail to function properly the counter E. M. F. machine 11 may moved from the circuit by throwmg the switch 12 to the right and thus completing the field circuit through the conductor 15. With this arrangement it is ossible to control the vessel independently 0 any regulating action secured through the action of the counter E. M. F. regulator.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the proposed'arrangement may be modified to meet varying requirements without departing from my invention which has been shown and described in connection with a simplified arrangement for the purpose of clearly illustrating the invention and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A generator, a motor, means for successively controlling said generator and said motor, regulating means forlimiting the be re-' generator control to motor control for mainfield on said motor untilthe volta 0f' 88.id generator attains a redetermlned value and for thereafter ren ering j 5 said current controlling device operative.

11. A generator, a motor, means for successively controlling said generator and said I motor, re ulating means for limiting the r power delivered by said generator, means 10 for changing an operating characteristic of said motor for limiting the power demanded by said motor, and means depending on the voltage of said generator when the controlling means is operating on said motor for 16 transferring the control from 'said power regulating means to said motor characteristic changing means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of J une, 1930.

an FRANK. A. BYLES.

ower delivered by said generator, means or limiting the current demanded by said motor, and means depending on the voltage of said generator when the controlling means is operating on said motor for transferring the control from said power regulating means to said power limiting means.

2. A generator, a motor, means for successively controlling the field of said generator and the field of said motor, regulating means independent of said controlling means for limiting the power output of said generator, means responsive to current operative only during the period of motor field control for strengthening the motor field when the motor current exceeds a predetermined value,

7 means for holding constant voltage and means depending on the generator voltage for shifting the control from said power limiting means to said current responsive means. 7

3. A power system including a generator, a motor, means for controlling said generator and said motor, regulatingmeans indendent of said controlling means for limitmg the startin current of said generator and for tapering 0 said limit as the volta e rises,

aiter the generator voltage has attained normal value, current responsive means operative only durin the period of motor control for strengthenmg the field of said motor when the motor ,current exceeds a predetermined value, and.

means for transferring the control from said regulating means to said current responsive means when the controller is operating on the motor andthe generator voltage has attained a predetermined value.

4. A shippropulsion system comprising a generator, a motor,'means for successively "controlling said generator and said motor,- regulating means for limiting the power delivered b said generator, means responsive to a pre etermined value of motor current for increasing the field excitation of said motor, and means depending on the voltage of said generator when the controlling means is operating on said motor for transferring the control from said power regulating means to sald current responslve means.

5. A generator, a motor, means for successively controlling the fields of said generator and said motor, and means responsive to motor current 0 erative only during the period of motor fie d control when the generator voltage has reached a predetermined value for strengthening the motor field when the motor current exceeds a predetermined value.

6. A ship propulsion system wherein a propeller motor is arranged to be supplied with power from a direct current generator comprising a single manually operated means for controlling the operation of said system by successively controlling the generator and 'motor fields, means responsive to a predetermined current for strengthening the field in series with the field of said of the propeller motor independently of thecontrol exercised by said manual means, and means energized upon the transition from generator control to motor control for renerlng said current controlling device operative.

7. A ship propulsion system wherein a propeller motor is supplied with power from a direct current generator, means for manually controlling the fields of said generator and said motor, a counter E. M. F. regulator enerator, means responsive to generator v0 tage and current for regulating independently of said controlling means the voltage of said counter E. M. F. re lator in a manner to control the voltage and power limit of said generator, means responsive to motor current for strengthening the motor field on overload in dependently of said controlling means and means for transferring the control from said power regulating means to said current responsive means when the voltage of the generator attains a given value and the controller is operating on the fieldof said motor. 8. A generator, a motor, means for successively controlling the fields of said gener'ator and said motor, regulating means, independent of said controlling means, responsive to the volta and load of said generator for controlling t e field strength of said generator in a manner to protect said generator from excessive voltage or load, current responsive means ling the field ener 'zation of said motor independently of sand controlling means and means responsive to generator voltage for transferring the control exercised by said power regulator to said current responsive means when the voltage of the generator attains a predetermined value.

9. A generator, a motor, means for successivel controlling the fields of said generator an said motor, regulating means for limiting the power delivered by said generator, means responsive to a predetermined load current for strengthening the field of said motor, and means responsive to generator voltage for maintaining full field on the motor until the generator voltage attains a redetermined value and for then transerrin control from said regulating means to sai current responsive means.

10. A ship propulsion system wherein a pro ller motor is arranged to be supplied wit power from a direct current generator including. a single manually operated means for controlling the operation of said system by manually controlling the generator and motor fields, means responsive to a predetermined load current for strengthening the field of said propeller motor inde ndently of the control exercised by sai manual means, and means responsive to generator voltage energized upon the transition from for control- 

